Hyundai Sonata i45 test drive since 2009 sedan

All photos of Hyundai Sonata i45 since 2009

Family similarity

Kia Magentis
2.0 l, 136 l. p., 4-speed automatic, entry-level equipment, $ 20 850.

Hyundai Sonata
2.0 l, 133 hp, 4-speed automatic, GLS equipment, $ 20 250.

Hyundai Sonata
Hyunde Fifth generation Sonata debuted in the summer of 2001. The front -wheel drive sedan was unified with Kia Magentis.
In the spring of 2004, the assembly was mastered
on Tagaz.
Engines: gasoline 2.0 liters (133 l. P.) And 2.7 l (178 l.).
Gearboxes: 5-speed
mechanical, 4-speed automatic.
Complete: GL and GLS.
Price in Russia: $ 17 50024 600.

Kia Magentis
Kia Magentis was shown at the end of 2000, and two years later his appearance was updated. It is produced with the sedan body, unified with Hynde Sonata. In the spring of 2001, the assembly in Kaliningrad was established by Avtotor.
Engines: gasoline 2.0 liters (136 l.) And 2.5 l (168 h.).

Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical or 4-speed automatic.
Two levels of configuration.
Price in Russia: $ 19 55022 600.

PRACTICAL PSYCHOLOGY
The traffic cop stepped onto the roadway and, passing the solid Magentis, cleverly hooked with striped gear frivolous silver sonata. A lesson in practical psychology on the Kaliningrad sedans drives many officials, so it is more expensive to slow down such a machine as before the nomenclature Volga. Another thing is the Ghostular Hyunde Sonata, however, the situation can from now on this is also a domestic car and it is now quite patriotic to drive it.
However, we will leave hardware games. Another thing is interesting to us: in the middle class, a very attractive offer has appeared the price of a large two -liter sonata collected at the Taganrog Automobile Plant begins at $ 17,500. For acquaintance, we took a car with an automatic gearbox, which is offered only in the GLS with alloy wheels, the anti -wings system, the anti -wings system , climate control for everything about all a little more than twenty thousand. The couple was composed by another Russian Korean Kia Magentis of the Kaliningrad enterprise Autotor, which is also two -liter and with an automaton, it costs almost the same.

Sister sonata and brother Magentis

Sometimes we completely unequivocally attribute cars to a female or male family, especially when the name helps. Our couple is just one of these: round, all of the soft lines of sonata with coquettishly lifted corners of slanting headlights clearly a lady in a silver dress. Serious, black with chrome Magentis, of course, a gentleman in a classic suit, shaded by the brilliance of cufflinks, watches and a cigarette case.
At first glance, two completely different cars, which are united by only close sizes and belonging to the European D-class. However, there is much more common in them than it seems and even than can be drawn from press releases. They mention the unification on the platform logical, because Kia Motors is part of Hyunde Corporation. But the unification is a tensile concept, here we see its maximum manifestation. Honestly, the greater similarity of two cars of different brands has not yet been seen.
Car firms are sometimes cunning, releasing a restyled version to the market under the guise of a new model go, figure out what is hidden there under an altered appearance. However, there is a simple but absolutely reliable way to find out the truth to compare the shape of door and window openings, racks, roofs. They are included in the power structure of the body, which during cosmetic modernization do not affect. Just such a case before us with all the external differences of Hyunde Sonat and Kia Magentis have the same spatial frame: close kinship is evident.

By the way, the steps between the body details of the sonata reach a one and a half to two millimeters (a real trifle, by the standards of the domestic auto industry!). Majentis, on the other hand, forgot to put the pistons of the rear bumper attachment. How can you not recall the unimportant wing of the editorial focus or the wheel of accent that was falling off during the test also collected in Russia

Funny features
Our couple was completely expected to be almost the same and spacious salons, able to easily accommodate five non -artistic men. The general remark is a relatively small height of the ceiling from the back, which concerns the crown passenger tall above 180 cm. The driver will have to pretty twist the controllers of the vertical position before he finds a convenient position of the chair spacious, but quite flat. In addition, the hard casing of the steering column strives to call on the knees.
The similarity in the design of the salons is such that you sometimes get confused: seats, front panel, devices, handles, buttons and switches, climate control panel, an automatic machine’s handle and many other elements or completely identical, or released only by materials or shades.

By golly, it is easier to list the differences: the rudder and levers of the parking brake vary a little, the doorbell is more or less original, and the central Kia console is visually combined with the tunnel of Hyunde, these elements are separate. General impression: the interiors are quite neat, but excessively modest, in places on the verge of cheapness, incompatible with the class. What are slippery, with burrs, plastic handbrakes, not to the place crowned with chrome buttons!
If you deviate from the requirements of stylistic unity, the Magentis salon looks a little richer: there are inserts under the tree, metal overlays on the thresholds, and the steering wheel and selector are lined with skin, which is really convenient. The radio is also installed, although quite simple. On the other hand, he does not have a headlight level regulator, without which the cars now, I thought, are not produced at all. Sonata cannot boast of a radio in a standard configuration: the one that flaunts in a test machine is installed by a dealer.
The peculiarity of car equipment is not exhausted by this. For example, there is a central castle, but without remote control, to be honest, I already forgot when I had to open the car with a key. Four electric windows are installed, but only the driver’s automatic mode and only to lower. The key blocks themselves, as if from twice cheaper Kia Rio, insultingly pulled a steering column for a long time, trying to adjust it in length until he realized that it could only be raised, to be raised. Yes, and only a couple of frontal airbags, albeit in the basic configuration is not enough! In general, the filling of our pair of Koreans differs from the one that the European buyer is used to seeing in this class. And from what we are slowly getting used to.

The shoes are different, the characters are similar

Almost the same power units are installed on both machines: two -liter sixteen -valve engines differ only in electronics setting. In the sonata, the characteristic is slightly more painful 184 N.M at 4500 rpm, in Majentis 180 N.M at 4600 rpm. But the latter is slightly more powerful than 136 liters. With. Against 133 with the same 6,000 rpm. Transmissions with automatic boxes repeat each other up to hundredths in the values \u200b\u200bof gear rates. And I would not have to talk about differences in dynamic qualities, if not for one but.
The fact is that cars are equipped with wheels of various dimensions of 205/60R16 in Hyunde and 205/60R15 in KIA. It is difficult to find a logical explanation, since the wheel arches are the same in size, but the results are obvious: an extra inch of the diameter provides a very good road clearance of 170 mm to the sonata, but increases the turning radius of up to 5.6 m. In Magentis, 160 mm and 5.2 m, respectively and 5.2 m. The main thing: a large wheel, ceteris paribus, implements a lower craving for a hundred silver car accelerates in 14.6 s, giving way to the opponent for more than a second.
However, these are the nuances. Subjectively, both Russians Koreans are calm, comfortable liners, capable of smoothly, with a sense of dignity to accelerate and then inaudibly fly along the highway, swaying on soft, ignoring the pardon of pendants (we also notice exactly the same). But shooting at a traffic light or overtaking, it is not very possible to register a bunch of steep turns. And the power seems to be not small, but multiplied by four viscous gears of the hydromechanical machine (by the way, with the possibility of manual control), and then assigned to nearly one and a half tons of equipped mass, gives the traction -making very moderate.

The reckoning for lulling comfort is a strong swing on gentle waves, which, combined with large rolls in corners, sometimes threatens to just throw the car on the sidelines. It is difficult to catch it because of slow, smeared reactions and an almost weightless steering wheel without reliable feedback. In such a situation, the limited productivity of the steering hydraulic power steering in both machines is more likely to be a dignity: with a sharp turn, it seems to rest against a slowly retreating limiter, not allowing you to make excessively bold evolution. Note that Kia Magentis seemed a little more collected and accurate, because it is lower?

I CHOOSE
Perhaps, after all, Magentis. No, not only for the few advantages that he demonstrated in comparison with the sonata. Yes, outwardly I like it more, but this is a subjective thing. But the manufacturer's guarantee is objective. The Taganrog Plant promises to selflessly take care of his Hyunde Sonata for only two years or 40 thousand km, but the car will faithfully love my Kia Magentis for five years or 120 thousand km! Of course, the absurdity is complete, because the cars are almost the same, but what is the case with the buyer? The long -known truth is confirmed: the guarantee does not reflect the reliability or technical perfection of the car, but only indicates the desire of the manufacturer to sell their goods. We assume that I bought this move. However, the situation may soon change. Tagaz dealers seriously consider the possibility of increasing the guarantee presumably, up to three years and 100 thousand km.

SUMMARY
Hyunde Sonata in minimal configuration is perhaps the most profitable offer in the class.
+ Spacious interior, comfortable suspension, large road clearance, good sound insulation, attractive price.
- poor equipment and decoration, modest dynamics, sluggish fuzzy reactions, uninformative steering.

Kia Magentis maximum of representativeness for every investment investment.
+ Spacious salon, comfortable suspension, considerable road clearance, good sound insulation, solid appearance, attractive price, prolonged guarantee.
- modest equipment and decoration, moderate dynamics, smeared reactions, uninformative steering.

EQUIPMENT
Hyundai Kia
Sonata Magentis
Fog lights
Headlights corrector
Alloy
wheel disks

central locking
Electric winding
(before. / ass.) / /
Electro -grinder
Adjustable
steering column
Climate control
Audio training
Audiosystem
Belting tensioners
Safety pillows
(number 2 2
Transformable
trunk
Full -size
spare wheel
Price, $ 20 250 20 850